Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA) Disappoints Wall St.

September 18, 2009 · Filed Under R&D, obesity 

Shares of Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA) are off 11% to $4.35 on drug trial news that investors did not think was up to expectations.

ARNA announced that it had positive, highly significant top-line results from the BLOSSOM (Behavioral modification and LOrcaserin Second Study for Obesity Management) trial. BLOSSOM confirms the results previously reported for the BLOOM (Behavioral modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management) trial and completes the lorcaserin Phase 3 pivotal registration program of 7,190 patients evaluated for up to two years. Arena plans to submit a New Drug Application, or NDA, for lorcaserin to the US Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in December.

In the one-year BLOSSOM trial, lorcaserin met all primary efficacy and safety endpoints. Patients achieved highly significant categorical and absolute weight loss. Lorcaserin was very well tolerated and was not associated with depression or suicidal ideation. The integrated echocardiographic data set from BLOSSOM and BLOOM rules out a risk of valvulopathy in lorcaserin patients according to criteria requested by the FDA. Treatment with lorcaserin also resulted in significant improvements as compared to placebo in multiple secondary endpoints associated with cardiovascular risk.

The AP saw things a little differently–”Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. said on Friday that its obesity drug candidate lorcaserin succeeded in a clinical study, but the drug did not appear to be as effective as other treatments competitors have in development.”

Douglas A. McIntyre

Tags:

Comments

Comments are closed.

    Subscribe to BioHealth Investor BioHealth Investor RSS Feed